First Saturday for Families

The Gift of Giving

Join us for a family workshop offered in conjunction with “Pia Camil: A Pot for a Latch,” on view through April 17, 2016. For the exhibition, Camil has invited the public to participate in the ongoing creation of her piece on designated days, during which visitors exchange their own unique items for others in the installation. With “A Pot for a Latch,” Camil transforms the Lobby Gallery into a shop of sorts, in which the monetary value of an object is replaced by its personal history and significance.

Inspired by the exhibition, families will develop their own gift-giving festival. Using the Museum’s Sky Room as both a workshop and market, families will create poems, drawings, and small adornments to exchange, while sharing stories about the items’ significance. Families are also encouraged to bring in unique objects to trade, following the instructions in the artist’s invitation:

The object you bring is a talisman of sorts, and it should be thought of in the same way that the ancient Romans conceived of in their term “res,” which denotes a gift that has both a personal value and a history. Bring objects of power, of aesthetic interest, and of poignancy.

New Museum First Saturdays for Families are free of charge. This program is designed and recommended for families with children aged between four and twelve years, and includes free New Museum admission for up to two adults per family. Children under eighteen are always admitted free. No preregistration is required. Space is limited, and tickets are given out on a first-come, first-served basis. Your entire party must be present; tickets will not be given to partial parties.